In
June 2007, GBPH organizers became aware of and immediately
endeared to Evan Cousineau. Evan, a fun-loving 9 year old hockey player, water polo player and surfer from San Clemente, exited a swimming
pool one day following practice, then fell to the floor and had a seizure.
From that moment on everything changed for him and the Cousineau family.
Evan was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy or ALD. ALD is a genetic, progressive degenerative disorder that affects the neurons ability to transmit signals in the brain. The only possible treatment
would a bone marrow transplant, but even that may not cure this horrendous disease. Following a tenuous series of tests, hospital stays, and strenuous travel, Evan received a bone marrow (BMT) and blood transplant June 25th at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.
Beyond the decorated door to Evan’s hospital room, Mom Gina Cousineau and oldest daughter Mary
remained steadfast at Evan's side giving their loving care and keeping a watchful eye
24/7. Father Mark would travel as possible to Minneapolis from their family home in San Clemente while juggling his work as an environmental consultant with caring for Evan's twin sister Alaina and oldest son Derek.
Mary and the GBPH volunteers began corresponding with the family
and moved to add the Goal Cans For Evan campaign into the GBPH
tournament events schedule to help raise funds to help aid the
family. While GBPH and other volunteer groups around Orange County
began efforts to help, Gina journaled daily in Evan’s CaringBridge web site updating the day’s struggles and progress to a host of teary-eyed subscribers.
At the GBPH 2007 event, volunteers made posters, sold bracelets for Evan
strolled through the crowds to raise funds for Evan's family as they struggle with his treatment and travel expenses as well as to increase awareness for ALD.
The Goal Cans For Evan program
solicited donations from spectators following each goal scored throughout the three day
tournament urging hockey fans to make those goal cans go Cha-Ching!
Special guest Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks even took time to
make a special showing with the crowd and one of the Evan posters
to later send Evan a greeting from the event attendees wishing him
well. With the event over and the tally made, the Goal Cans for
Evan program helped raise $1000.
Following Gina's journal on the day-to-day events of Evan's ups
and downs became to many like reading the daily news; it kept us
held to his progress and the emotional strains that the family so
bravely endured. Like the thousands around the country who had
come to know of Evan, we were all gravely saddened by the news of
his passing on November 2nd, 2007 - the day before he would have
turned 10.
The local news would fill pages covering Evan and his family's
struggles, and later his memorial and gathering at San Clemente's T-Street, Evan's favorite beach.
Attendees of the memorial would later participate in a paddle out, and afterwards, a beach party – as requested by Evan.
Today, Evan's journey continues through his spirit and through the
efforts carried on by his mother and family in the BAHBAD
foundation.
We invite you to share the journey with mother Gina Cousineau and
her daughter Mary in the Cox Communications produced video about
this family's courage to keep on giving!
You can still help Evan and people in need just like him through your
life-giving donations. To learn more, click on the link to BAHBAD
and then register to Be A Hero, Become A
Donor.
In
June 2007, GBPH organizers became aware of and immediately
endeared to Evan Cousineau. Evan, a fun-loving 9 year old hockey player, water polo player and surfer from San Clemente, exited a swimming
pool one day following practice, then fell to the floor and had a seizure.
From that moment on everything changed for him and the Cousineau family. 
